Qatar Airways and GTMC working the partnership

Qatar Airways, the Skytrax five-star ranked airline, recently hosted a meeting of the Guild of Travel Management Companies’ Air Working Party, at their prestigious Cluny Mews UK HQ in London’s Earls Court.
At the meeting Qatar Airways’ UK & Ireland country manager Rachel Finn; vice-president commercial Europe, Paul Johannes and corporate sales manager Emma Deering updated the group on specific products available to the corporate and SME market. They also talked about the airline’s rapid expansion, which now has a global network of 86 destinations with the latest additions including Melbourne and the Indian commercial city OF Bangalore.
“At Qatar Airways, we are very proud of our strong relationship with the GTMC and we appreciate the value of the business travel distribution channel. We are able to be very flexible and creative with TMCs and can adjust to individual models with tailor made initiatives,” said Finn.
Chairman of the GTMC Air Working Party, FCM’s Travel Solutions Alan Spence said: “The GTMC enjoys mutually beneficial, supportive relationships with its partners and with Qatar Airways hosting the air working party meeting, it was an opportunity to meet key personnel on their home territory and completely familiarise ourselves with the impressive Qatar Airways product.
A key component of the GTMC is its internal system of ‘working parties’. These specialist groups are dedicated to key aspects of the business travel industry. They consistently review developments within their sector, make appropriate recommendations to GTMC members and are often able to bring about changes, which will benefit the customer and supplier alike.
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Between the UK and Qatar, the Doha-based airline operates six non-stop flights a day. London Heathrow is served four-times-a-day, and both London Gatwick and Manchester are served daily.
Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 81 aircraft to 86 diverse business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, South Asia, and North America.
With seven new routes lined up during 2010, Qatar Airways will increase its global portfolio significantly.
Qatar Airways launched scheduled flights to the southern Indian city of Bengaluru (Bangalore) last month. It plans to serve Copenhagen from March 30; Ankara on April 5; Tokyo on April 26; and Barcelona on June 7 rounding up a busy year for the Doha-based airline.
Launch dates for both Sao Paulo in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina – Qatar Airways’ first entry into South America – will be announced in due course.